A revision of the South Asian schilbid catfish genus Eutropiichthys published in the latest issue of the journal Copeia describes two new species.
The study, by Carl Ferraris Jr. and Richard Vari, recognizes five species of Eutropiichthys: E. vacha from the rivers of eastern Pakistan, northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, E. burmannicus from the Irrawaddy River of Myanmar to the lower Salween River of Myanmar and Thailand, E. britzi new species, from the Irrawaddy and Sittang Rivers of Myanmar, E. murius from the rivers of Bangladesh, northern India, and southern Nepal, and E. salweenesis new species, from the portion of the Salween River in Thailand.
Eutropiichthys britziThis species, named after Ralf Britz (who collected part of the type series), is distinguished from congeners in having a combination of: 15"19 rakers on the first gill arch, 15"17 branched pectoral-fin rays,the accessory premaxillary tooth patch extending posteriorly nearly to the terminus of the gape, 46"54 branched anal-fin rays, the posterior limit of the gape located under the orbit, the fleshy flap along the anterior margin of the posterior naris extending medial of the medial margin of the naris by a distance equal to, or greater than, the transverse dimension of the posterior naris, the length of the pectoral-fin spine 16.8"18.0% SL, roughened lateral margin of the pectoral spine, and somewhat rounded snout in lateral view and slightly trilobed in dorsal view.
Eutropiichthys burmannicusEutropiichthys burmannicus, previously considered a synonym of E. vacha, differs from congeners in having a combination of: 22"28 rakers on the first gill arch, 15"17 branched pectoral-fin rays, the accessory premaxillary tooth patch extending posteriorly nearly to the terminus of the gape, the fleshy flap along the anterior margin of the posterior naris (barely extending medial of the medial margin of the naris for a distance distinctly less than the transverse length of the posterior naris, 46"54 branched anal-fin rays, the position of the posterior limit of the upper jaw at, or beyond, the vertical through the middle of eye, and the snout of adults distinctly pointed in lateral view and acutely angular in dorsal view.
Eutropiichthys muriusThis species is distinguished from congeners in having a combination of: 11 or 12 branched pectoral-fin rays, 32"37 branched anal-fin rays, 15"18 rakers on the first gill arch, the accessory premaxillary tooth patch falling distinctly short of the terminus of the gape, the the fleshy flap along the anterior margin of the posterior naris extending medial of the medial margin of the naris by a distance equal to, or greater than, the transverse dimension of the posterior naris, the posterior limit of the upper jaw located at the vertical through the anterior limit of the eye, and a rounded snout in lateral view and slightly trilobed in dorsal view.
Eutropiichthys salweenensisEutropiichthys salweenensis is named after its type locality (the Salween River) and differs from congeners in having a combination of: 18"20 rakers on the first gill arch, 48"50 branched anal-fin rays, the accessory premaxillary tooth patch extending posteriorly nearly to the terminus of the gape, the posterior limit of the upper jaw under the orbit, the extent of the fleshy flap along the anterior margin of the posterior naris barely extending medial of the medial margin of the naris for a distance distinctly less than the transverse length of the posterior naris, the length of the pectoral-fin spine 18.7"21.3% SL, smooth lateral margin of the pectoral spine, and the snout rounded in lateral view and slightly trilobed in dorsal view.
Eutropiichthys vachaThis species is distinguished from congeners in having a combination of: 15"20 rakers on the first gill arch, 14 or 15 branched pectoral-fin rays, the accessory premaxillary tooth patch extending posteriorly nearly to the terminus of the gape, 44"48 branched anal-fin rays, the fleshy flap along the anterior margin of the posterior naris barely extending medial of the medial margin of the naris for a distance distinctly less than the transverse length of the posterior naris, the posterior limit of the upper jaw at vertical through the middle of the eye, and a pointed snout in lateral view and acutely angular in dorsal view.
For more information Ferraris, CJ Jr. and RP Vari (2007) Revision of catfishes of the genus Eutropiichthys, with the description of two new species (Siluriformes: Schilbidae). Copeia 2007, pp. 866"885.